Folding umbrella.



. BLOCK FLDlNG UMBBELL-A.-

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Pmmtd 119643., 4@ WW.

2 SHEETS--SHEET lf.

A. @Limit FGLDING UMBRELLA.' wmcmmw man man. zo, @m54 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

INH/Ell! TOR N TTBIIIEVS .block Wim/5885s" Lee o appiicanon ainineeemerao, ina termination;

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that 1, ALEXANDER BLOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in che county and State of New York, have invented a new and. Improved Folding Umbrella, 0f which the following is a full., clear, and exact description.

r1`he object of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding umbrella which can be readily opened and closed and when not in use can be .folded into'a comparabag, valise, or the like.

sult, use is made of a foldable stick, a notch attached to the `upper end of the stick, fa-

' provided'with a notch l-11 o n'which are pivdouble runner slidable on the stick, ribs pivoted on the notch and made'in sections foldably connected with each other, one of the sections being the inner section, another the outer section and a third the intermediate section, the inner and outer sections bein adapted to swing-"inward and downward and the intermediate section being adapted to swing upward and inward, and an actuating .i device connected with the said rib sections and including two stretchers connected with the said double runner. f A practical embodiment of the' invention is represented 4in the accompanying draw- -f pivoted the inner end of the intermediate ings forming a part of this specification, in

which similar characters of reference indi-. v cate corresponding parts 1n 'all the views.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the umbrella with the parts in extended poslition;

Fig. 2

sections in folded tions and part ofthe operating mechanism for the rib sectioiisg 5@ Fig. gs anenlarged sectional side eleva [it-ion of the telescopingstick with the parts in extended position; i

Fig. 7 is n. sectionahplan View 0f 'Specification of Lettera F is` an enlarged sectional side eleva-f eo vtion of one of the sectional ribs with'the osition and connected, by the stretchers with the double runners`;' Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional side eleva- 'tion of the joint connecting the outer -s'ec-fV "do "tion with the intermediate section;

i Fig'. 1 is a similar view of the connection hetween the intermediateiandinner rib secnanna nacen, or nw man, n'. .jm

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am. nannten ean-iainhandle end ofthe stick, the section being onthe line 7--7 of-Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged 'sectional side elevation of the lower end of the Astick and the sectional handle in open position; Fig. 9 is'a perspective view of the handle Fig. 10 isla side elevation of the umbrella endof thesticl; with the-parts in closed poi 'sitiong i "fand with thefparts in folded `position and mounted in the casing, part of the latter 'bleinliroken out; ig..11 is an enlarged inverted sectional planview of the same on v4the line 11--11 'of Fig. 12 is a 'sectionalside'elevation of a 'modified form of the" foldable stick.-

V covered by a suitable fabric covering 13..

Each, rib 12 is made of'an inner section 14, an intermediate section '15 andan outer section 16. r1 he inner section 14 is made in two parts 17 vand l18 slidably connected'fwith each other to lengthen and shorten this vse'co 'tion on extendin the umbrella'for use or on folding theum relle., as hereinafter more fully explained. The inner part 17 of the inner section 14 is pivotally connected with the notch 11 and the outer .end of the part 1'8 is provided with a seat 19 on which is section'15, as plainly shown inFi'gs. 1, 2 and 4, the said seat 19 also preventing the intermediate section l 15, from Swingin Idownwardl thereon 'but' allowing4 the'sai section to swing upward and inward onthe seat 19.

'The sections' 15 and 16 vare pivotallyitonnected witheach other by the; use of a link 2G,'a s plainly showninFigs. 2. and 3, and this ointvis adapted toA pass into a-sleeve 21 shown in Fig."2, at the time the sleeve 21' has been moved inwardon' thefouter end of s lida 1e on the outer end ofthe intermediate inextended position, 'as shown ji1i-lB`ig., 3,` or f y i to allow the said outer section 16-to swing the 'intermediate section .15, as shown jiiivfll n order to shift lthe'.sleeve 21`. 'int o its extreme positions on foldingV or-extending the rib, and to movethe ribse'ctionslc, 1.5

'and 16 vinto extended or :folded position the following arrangement is. made; The, sleeve `21 is attached to the outer end of the lever termediate section r15 with the said seat 19 (see Figs. A'1, 2 and 4). The inner end of the lever 22 is pivotally connected by a link 24 with a lower stretcher 25 pivotally connected with an upper stretcher 26 and with a slide 27 mounted to slide on the inner part 17 of the inner rib section 14, as plainly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The upper stretcher 26 is 'pivotally connected with a notch 271 held on the upper end of a sleeve 28 mounted to slide up and down on the upper section 29 of the oldable stick 10. On4 the lower end Y of the sleeve 28 is mounted tol slide a notch 30 pivotally` connected with the lower stretcher 25,- and a spring 31 is coiled on the sleeve 28 and bears on the notches 27 and 30 to hold the same normally spaced apart but to allow the notch 30 to move relatiVeIytothe notch, 27 on folding the x s umbrella, as' shown in Fig. 2, so that the spring 31 is compressed. The lower end 32 of the sleeve 28 is flared outwardly to limit the downward sliding movement of the.

notch 30, on the said sleeve. 'It is understood that the two notches 27 and 30 mounti ed on the sleeve 28 with a spring 31 'inter posed between the same constitute the double y runner and will be so referred to hereinafter.

The stick 10 besides the upper tubular section 29 consists of an intermediate section 33 and a lower section 34, preferably made tubular, and one mounted to slide on the other. vThe upper end of the intermediate section v33 is provided with ahead 34 slidmgly' engagingthe upper section 29, as

lainly shown in Fig. 6, and this head 34 1s adapted to be seated on an annular shoul-V der' 35 arranged .on the lower end'. of the 33 "can be slid up into thesection 29. The lower section 34 is provided at its upper end.

to abutY against the exterior shoulder 38 lon upper section 29. A spring catch 36 held on the intermediate section 33 is adapted to abut againstvthe lower edge of the upper section 29 to hold the said sections 29 and 33 lockedin extended position. On the user pressing the catch 36 inwardly the'section with an. interior collar 37 slidably engagmg the intermediate section 33 and adapted the lower end of the intermediate section'33.

I 'A springcatch 39 held on the lower end of A the intermediate section v33 is adapted to engage the upperledge of the section 34 to hold the sections 33' and 34 locked in exy tended position, as plainly shownin Fig. 6.-

On the user pressing the spring catch 39 inwardly the section 34 can be slid exteriorly upward on the section 33 and this section 34 is also adapted to pass into the upper section 29 so that the stick is practically folded into the length of the upper section 29.

The lower end of the stick section 34 is V'wardly extending lugs 45, 46 adapted to engage corresponding apertures 47, 48 formed in the lower end of the stick section 34 (see Figs. 6 and 8).v A ferrule 50 is mounted to slide on the lower end of the stick section 34 and is adapted to pass over the neck portions 43 and 44 so as to securely lock the handle 40 to thelower end of the stick section 3 4. A spring catch 51 is mounted on the lower end of the stick section 34 and is adapted to engage the interior of the ferrule 50 to hold the latter in raised position, as shown nFig. 8, or to engage the upper 'edge of the ferrule 50 when the latter is in lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 6. to securely lock the ferrule 50 in lowermost position. The lower end of the handle parts 41 and 42 vare' connected with each other by annular lazy tongsGO to allow of conveniently moving the said handle parts 41 and 42 outward from each other to disconnect the handle 40 Y fromthe lower end of the stick section 34 or move the said handle parts 41 and 42 toward each other for engaging the lugs 45 and 46 with the apertures 47, 48 to connect the handle 40 with the lower end of the stick section 34. In order to keep the handle 40 connected -with the lower end of the stick section 34 at the time the handle parts are in open position, use is made of flexible connections 61, such as chains or cords, attached at their upper ends to an eye 62 depending from the bottom of the stick section 34, the lower ends bf" the flexible connectionsl being attached to eyes 63 located diametrically opposite -each other and secured to the inner faces of the handle portions 41 and 42. The lower ends of the lazy tongs are `adapted to be "closed by a cover 66 hinged at one end to one member of the lazy tongs and provided at its other end with a spring catch 67 adapted to engage an opposite member of the lazy tongs as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 8 and 9.

i Within the handle 40 is arranged a casing or It is understood that when the handle parts 4l a'nd 42 of the handle 40 are inclosed the naidoo? housing 70 forms the folds within the said closed handle parts, as plainly shown in Fig. 7, and when the handle parts 41`and 42 are moved into open position then the casing opens up sufficiently to properly house the folded ribs 12, the folded stick and the folded covering 13. The neck portion`71 is preferablyprovided with a draw string 73 for closing the said neck after the folded 10 arts ofthe umbrella are within the casing. g0, as plainly indicated in Figs. '10' and 11.

ISten the lower end of the casing 70 andnormally folded inward, as indicated in Fig. 8.y Prior to folding the umbrella, the yextension 83 is swung outwardly and fastened by press buttons or other fastening devices 84 to the boxes 80 and 81 so as to cover the same, as plainly shown in Fig.'10, at the time the umbrellaJ is in folded position vwithin the casing 70. A Flexible handle86 is preferably attached to the ends of the f boxes 80 and 81 to permit of conveniently carrying the umbrella when foldedup. The inner ends of the boxes 80 and 81 are attached by pins 87 (see Fig. 6) to oppositely disposed members of the lazy tongs 60 to allow convenient opening and closing` of the lazy tongs 60 without interference by the said boxes 80 and 81. ln order to hold the boxes against accidental turning on the pins 87 during the time the lazy tongs are closed, 'use is made of a cord 64 having knots at the ends and adapted to be engaged with hooks y65` of which two are on the boxes 80 and 81 and the other two arefon the upper ends of diametrically opposite members of the llazy tongs 60, as plainly shown in Figs, 8 and 9. "ln order to limit the outward movement of the handle parts 41 .and 42 use-is made of a stop plate 90 extending across the under siden'of the handle 40 and s lidably engaging bearings 91 formed in the bottoms of the boxes 80 and 81. 'llhe stop plate 90 is pro-v i vvided near its ends with elongated slots 92 through which extend stop pins 9"forming art of the bottoms ofthe boxes 80 and 81. s

hen the handle is in closed position the stop pins 93 slots 92, as plainly showny in Fig. 6, but when the boxes 80 and 81 are 'moved outwardly the stop pins 93 engage the outer walls of theslcts 92 .thus limiting the outward movement of the said boxes and 81.

The stick 10 instead of being made in tele- 65 scoping sections may be made in sections Athe. sleeve be divided into compartments to .is provided with .a y .through the section 104 and passing through 85 are at the inner ends of the pivotally connected with cach other, as plainly indicated in Fig. 12. ln thisy case the upper sectionis connected by a link 101 with the intermediatesection 102 connected by a link 103 with the lower or handle 70 section 104.' A. sleeve 105 slides on the section 102 to pass over and inclose the link 101 so as to rigidly connect thel sections 100 and 102 with eachother. A sleeve 106 is mount ed to slide on the section 104 and is adapted 75 to pass over the link 103 so as to inclose the latter and thus `rigidly connect the Sections .102 vand 104 with cach other. 'llhe upper end' of the sleeve 106 abuts against the lowerend of the sleeve-105 so as to hold t0 105 against accidental sliding movement.y "llhe sleeve -106'is mounted to slide in a handle section 107 and the latter pin 108 extending slots 109 formed in the sleeve106. A vspring catch 110v is attached to. the'inside of the sleeve 106 and is adapted to project through a slot 111 formed 'in the handle section 107 to lock thesleeve 1'061'1against movement in 90 the handle section 107 thus also holding the section' 104/against. movement. When the spring catch 110 ispressed inward the sleeve 106 can be'moved downwardin the handle i section 107 to uncover vthelink 103 and to 95 allow the sleeve 105 to be lmoved downward to uncover the link 101 so that the sections can be folded up into al comparativ'ely.small-vl space. 'l`he lower end 112 of the sleeve 107 v is in the form of a ferrule adapted to passt-'7.100

over the neck portions 43, 44 to hofld the handle parts 40 and 41 'in closed position the same as the ferrule 50 previously ,men-

tioned. y i

The operation is as follows: 105 When the umbrella is in open position, as

shown inFig. 1 Ithen the stretcher 26 is slightly inclineddownwardly from the notch 27 to the pivotal connection with the slide 27, and the stretcher 25 extends upwardly 110 and outwardly from the notch 30 to setthe slide 27 so that the double runner is .held

in this uppermost position andagainst acci dental closing owing to theinclination of the stretchers 26 and 25, as above described. 1-15 lt will also bev noticed thatwhen the parts are in this position'the link -24 connecting the stretcher 25 with the lever 22 holds the latter locked in closed position thus preventing laccidental folding of the outer rib sec-,120

vtions 15 and 16. v`When itis desired to close and fold the umbrella, the user takes hold of the lower end of the sleeve 28 of the double runner and pulls the latter downward on the section 29 of the stick 10 and in doing so 125 the notch 27 swings the stretcher 26 downward so that the latter is inclined upwardly -and outwardly from the notch 27` to the pivotal connection with the slide 27. A further downward movement of the double runner now causes the stretchers 25 and 26 to swing the rib inward close to the stick 10. When this position has been reached the user cancarry the umbrella in this closed position, if. desired. During the closing movement of the rib the slide 27 moves inward on.

the inner rib section 14 at the same time the slide causes the entire rib to swing to closed position. When it is desired to fold the umbrella the user imparts a further downward sliding movement to the double runner so that the stretcher 25 by the link 24 and the lever 22 imparts an upward and inward swinging movement to the intermediate rib section 15 at the same time the sleeve -21 is drawn inward from over the link 20 to -release the outer section 16 and thus allow edge of the section 34 engages the spring catch 36 and presses the same inward to allow the section 33 together with the section 34 to-pass into the section 29 on further pushing of the handle 40. It is understood that on telescoping the sections of the stick theoperator with one hand bears on the tip 72 sothat the notchll forces the part 17 of the inner rib section 14 downward on the other part 18 to practically reduce the length of the inner section 14 to about one half.v The user now unlocks the handle sections 41, 42 by -slidin the ferrule 50 upward on the lower end o the handle 'section 34 and disengages the cord 64 and opens the cover 66 to allow of opening the lazy tongs with a view to slide the handle -section over the folded umbrella and therebginclose the folded umbrella parts within t Viously explained. v In extending the umbrella the bag 70 with e bag I70, as prethe handle portions 41 and 42 is disengaged from the folded parts and then the sections of the stick 10 are extended to slide the part 17 outwardly relatively to the part le, and then the intermediate and outer rib sections 15 and 16 are swung down by hand to extend the rib alongside the stick. To open Athe umbrella the user now pushes the double runner upward to extend the stretchers 25, 26, the link 24 and the lever 22 to swing the rib sections into open position. It is understood that the upper stretcher 2G prevents the slide 27 from moving inward at the time the rib is extended in open position and is bent by the cover 13. The stretcher 26 obviates the use of a spring catch for the double runner when opening the umbrella.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In an umbrella, a stick, a runner on the stick and upon the lower end of which a slidable member is mounted, a spring on the runner and engaging the slidable member thereof, ribs leach formed of three sections, the inner section being formed of slidable members, the inner one of which is pivoted to the stick and the outer one provided with a seat to which the intermediate section is pivoted, a link pivotally connecting the intermediate and outer sections, a lever pivoted to the Yseat and carrying a sleeve in which the intermediate and outer sections slide, a slide on the inner member of the in- `ner rib section, an upper stretcher pivoted to the slide and runner, a lower stretcher pivoted to said slide and the sliding member carried by the runner, and a linkpivoted to said lever and to the lower stretcher.

y In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i y ALEXANDER BLOCK. Witnessesq THEO. G. HosTER,

AGEORGE H. EMSLIE. 

